Project Approach and Strategy

The project will introduce the following approaches and strategies

• Contiguous Area based Approach
  Geographically contiguous forestareas will be selected by a watershed approach to realize the efficiency of project implementation and substantial project impact. On the same line intervention areas in non-forest areas will be selected at the periphery of forest areas as a cluster to attain a contiguous area based approach.
  
• Holistic Approach with Integrated Project Components
  The project components are designed to organically link with each other to maximise the effect and impact of such components on the project as a whole. For this purpose the main components and the supporting components will be designed and implemented with integrity.
  
• Participatory Approach
  This will be the fundamental approach for the project implementation. All of the people's organizations i.e. JFMCs / SFDCs / EDCs will implement their activities with the technical support and guidance from Forest Department, concerned assiting organization and resource organizations. Group formation, micro-plan formulation and group management for execution of the work will be conducted in a participatory manner to strengthen and sustain activities by POs.
  
• Need Based Interventions to Forests and Forests areas
  The type mode and quantity of interventions under the project will be based on area specific conditions and needs from concerned stakeholders. Details of the type and quantity will be determined during the formulation of relevant treatment plans and micro-plans in accordance with the forest conditions. However, the departmental mode will be adopted in forest areas that require comprehensive protection / conservation measures or where sites are inaccessible.
  
• Emphasis on capacity building for People's Organisation
  This is aimed at increasing the capacity of the POs to continue and manage forests and forest resources as a group with minimum external support in the post project period.
  
• Effective Project Implementation and Management
  A Project Management Unit (PMU) will be established with in Gujarat Forest Department to solely manage, control and supervise the Project Implementation. At the field level, existing division offices and range offices will be involved as field implementing offices. Operational Manuals, guidelines, describing the technical, administrative and financial procedures of the project target for GFD field staff will be prepared. Similarly standard management manuals and handbooks will be prepared to consolidate and strengthen activities by the POs. Resource Organisation which are aimed at supporting POs will serve an indispensable role for streamlining activities and improving the capacities of POs.